Mobile Phones and Internet in Brisbane

One of the first things to do when you get to Brisbane from overseas will be to arrange a local SIM card so you can find your way around, put down a local phone number when filling out forms, and be contactable by your employer or potential employer. To start with, you might find it’s easy to get a pre-paid SIM card that you can add credit to as you go – you’ll be able to get one at the airport, or from newsagents, supermarkets or convenience stores. Once you’ve done your research, you can then organise a fixed contract, which will likely be cheaper.                               

Here’s your guide to mobile phone and internet service providers in Brisbane:

Mobile phones in Brisbane

If you can negotiate with your employer to have your phone included as part of your contract or relocation package, this will save a lot of hassle and expense, particularly as the majority of mobile phone companies will only allow permanent residents of Australia to enter a contract. If you can’t get your mobile phone arranged by an employer, here are the major mobile companies in Australia :

·      Telstra

·      Optus

·      Vodafone   

·      Virgin

·      Amaysim

As with any purchase, you should do your homework before you decide on your mobile provider since the offerings are very different and the plan you choose will depend on how you use your phone. To help you choose, you can use a comparison site.

For the larger providers (particularly major Australian telecom companies like Telstra and Optus), you can usually find a phone shop in a shopping mall or city centre if you prefer to speak to someone in person.

Landline phones and internet

Once you’ve found a place to live, you’ll then need to organise your home internet plan. Telstra and Optus are the two main internet providers, and both also offer mobile plans. You may be able to get a discount on both and simplify your admin by bundling your plans into one.

However, there are also a number of other internet service providers in Brisbane, some of which provide internet only – your options include ADSL and ADSL2+, ‘naked’ DSL (internet without a landline telephone number), wireless internet, and the National Broadband Network (NBN). These providers are:

·      iiNet

·      Internode

·      Belong

·      TPG

·      iPrimus

·      Foxtel

·      Dodo

·      Skymesh

·      Aussie Broadband

·      Spintel

To compare broadband internet providers, different costs, and different services available in your area of Brisbane, visit consumer ratings website Canstar.

It can take some time to organise your home internet, so make it top of your list once you know your permanent Brisbane address. For a quick fix, you can buy a USB dongle with pre-paid wireless internet via a SIM card, allowing you can take the internet with you anywhere.